I place my finger under her chin, bringing it up, so she’ll look at me. There aren’t any tears in those green eyes, only anger. “That sucks, Leah.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “On the up side, he left us a ton of money in life insurance. My mom never had to worry.” She shrugs her small shoulders again, and it’s taking every ounce of my willpower not to pull her into me, but I can tell she needs space now.
“What happened to her?” I hesitate to ask what other despair she’s had to endure.
“She had a brain aneurysm just over five years ago. Died instantly.”
I remain silent. Both parents dying suddenly with no time to prepare had to be hard on, not only Leah but Shane as well.
“It happened so sudden, it shattered our life. Shane especially.” This time grief overflows in her eyes.
“After Dad died, Mom was never the same. She always knew about his affairs, but didn’t care as long as she was the one he came home to. I never understood how she was able to handle it, but like I said, I was older when I found out. Anyways, she was in a deep depression after the accident, and we had to move in with my grandmother, so she could take care of us. It took about two years before my mom finally got clean. See, in her times of pain, she turned to alcohol to cope.” She raises her head to look me dead in the eye. “Addiction. My grandma gave her an ultimatum to get clean or leave, but she wouldn’t stand by and let her ruin her kids’ lives.”
“Your grandma sounds awesome,” I chime in and earn a small smile.
“She is, I can’t wait for Dani to meet her. So, my mom went into AA and got herself clean. It’s amazing how our life changed overnight. She was a better mom than before my dad passed, more attentive and loving. Shane was…twelve and I was thirteen, and she made us her world. We stayed at my grandma’s, even though we could have moved away. It was a great life, we were a family and happy.
“Then after I graduated from high school, I moved into the city for college. Shane still had one more year to finish. He and Mom were at the mall one day, shopping for grandma’s birthday. My mom collapsed right in front of him. He tried to save her, but they say it was instant; there was nothing he could have done. But Shane has always blamed himself. He thinks he should have seen some sort of symptoms.”
Her eyes flood with tears now, and I brush my thumb across to wipe them and pull her into an embrace.
“That’s when Shane started hanging out with kids from my grade that never went on to college. He began to experiment and eventually my grandma kicked him out. He came and lived with me for a while, but over time it got out of hand. Guys in and out all night long, me having to worry about where he is. My stuff started disappearing. I had to kick him out, as well. That’s when he went to live by himself, and I seldom saw him unless he needed—”
“Money?” I finish.
“Yep.”
“Your grandma? How come she didn’t come up for family weekend?” I ask.
“Shane swore her off as soon as she kicked him out. He blames her for not seeing mom’s symptoms. She would have come if he would have asked, but I’m sure he didn’t.”
“Leah, I’m sorry you have had so much grief in your life.” I kiss her forehead.
“Thank you. I have come to terms with it, but Shane, he just can’t seem to recover. Like yesterday in therapy, he can’t even say she’s dead.”
“Hopefully, Jim is helping him with this.”
“I hope,” she says, wiping her eyes and taking another drink from her bottle.
I hate telling Adam about our family, and the last thing I want is it used against Shane in anyway in case this relationship between us goes south. For some reason, I trust Adam that he’ll never hurt me.
“Would your family ever fight for Dani?” I ask.
“No, you don’t have to worry about that. They want visitation, but nothing more.”
“What if we broke up? Would you take the information— “
“Leah, I’m not a vindictive person.”
“I was just making sure your feelings were about me, not about me and Dani together as a pair.”
“Leah,” continuing as he inches closer to me, “I liked you before Dani ever became part of my life.” He kisses me, and I kiss him back, but abruptly pull away.
“What do you mean? You only saw me that one time before the studio with Dani.”
“Um,” his head wavers back and forth. “I noticed you about a month before that encounter with Marcus,” he admits.
“You did?” I question, unable to conceal the pleasure that’s churning inside of me.
“Yeah, does it make it weird?” He asks. “I swear I’m not a stalker.”
“No, I like it,” I assure him.
“You have any idea how happy I was when I found out you were Dani’s aunt.” I have to laugh at his confession.
“How did you notice me?” I ask, being the girl I am, wanting all the specifics.
“You must have quite a few classes at Ambrose. I’d see you walking by a lot. I was pissed when Marcus went to say something to you.”
“Were you going to defend my honor?” I joke.
He pulls me towards him, hugging my back to his chest. “You did a good enough job on your own.” We both laugh. “I already claimed you as my secret. Marcus has been my best friend for five years, and I never said anything about you. If he happened to be around when you walked by, I’d turn my head just so he wouldn’t notice. That morning though, you looked so distraught, my eyes couldn’t deviate from you. This need to make everything better for you came over me. Then Marcus followed my line of vision.” He shakes his head in regret.
Adam lays us back down similar to how we were before the talk of my parents interrupted our cuddling. We continue talking for a couple more hours. Our conversations are about my schooling and what I’m studying. We talk about my plans for after school, which seemed to surprise him that I would be going on to get my masters. I don’t ask Adam about his job or future, and he doesn’t bring it up. From the way he talks, I figure he went to school at some point, but not sure if he graduated or dropped out.
Eventually, I fall asleep in his arms, never feeling safer and more secure. Adam has wormed his way into my life, and I have no desire to let him go.
Beep, beep
I hear my phone going off, but I’m reluctant to leave Adam’s arms. Somehow in the middle of the night we became intertwined together with my legs over his while his arms hold me snuggly against his chest. I’m warm and cozy, but my phone is relentless, going off again.
I slowly move to silence it, but Adam holds me firm.
“Whoever it is, they can wait,” his groggy voice says in my ear before kissing my forehead. “Good morning,” he says and brings his lips to mine. Impulsively, I move my head back, since I’ve yet to brush my teeth. “Oh come on, I thought we settled that yesterday.” With that he brings his lips to mine, conducting chills from my head to my toes. Pulling away he smacks my ass. “Now you can go.” He chuckles at my shocked expression.
I laugh while walking over to my phone. I know it can’t be good news this early in the morning. My gut is begging for attention, but I don’t want to burst this perfect bubble between Adam and me. Beep, beep—my phone goes again, that’s three text messages. Rummaging in my purse, I finally find it as a fourth beep comes up.
Meghan: Hey girl! I hate to bother you on your weekend but I thought you should see this.
Attached is an article on page three with a picture of Jason and a redheaded girl pushed up against him, and his hands resting on the outsides of her thighs right at the hem of her short dress.
The caption read, Jason Bridges gets cozy with Alexa Michaels. Daddy’s happy.
Alexa Michaels is the Mayor’s daughter and a few years older than me. I’ve met her at a couple of the parties Jason’s parents have held. She’s always been nothing short of polite, but a little too close and touchy with Jason. I’ve found them in some compromising situations, but Jason alway
s protests it’s her and that she was drunk. I believed him after she came on to him while I was next to him, and he brushed her off.
Meghan: Even though I hate the dipshit, I’m sorry!
Meghan: Dump the jackass and get acquainted with Uncle! ☺
Meghan: Just kidding, Leah, if you need me, you know where I am
I’m surprised how unaffected I feel at the moment. It should be tearing me apart, but instead relief floods over me. I look at Adam sitting up on the headboard with his legs sprawled in front of him, bearing a concerned look to what could be wrong. He’s waiting for my answer about what is so important this early in the morning.
“It’s my friend Meghan,” I answer his unasked question.
“Is everything okay with her?” he asks.
“Yes, it’s an attachment to an article in the Chicago Daily Times this morning with a picture.”
“What about? Why so early in the morning?”
“Meghan is always up early. She’s an artist and likes to sketch when the sun rises.” I fail to mention that she usually hasn’t gone to bed, or, most likely, is coming from someone else’s bed.
“What’s so important about this article?” I can tell he’s getting a little worried about his unanswered questions.
“It’s about—Jason.” The smile falters from his face.
He says nothing, waiting for more information.
I walk over and bring the phone to him, so he can witness it himself. He stares at the phone, and his thumb brushes down the screen to read the whole article. His face starts to turn red and his jaw locks, but when he hands me the phone back, he gives me raised eyebrows.
“So, how do you feel about it?” he asks.
“I’m indifferent,” I admit to him.
“Isn’t that a good thing?’ he asks.
“I was with him a year and a half. I cared about him. To tell you the truth I am actually re….”
“Relieved,” he finishes my sentence.
“Yeah.” I put my hands over my face, embarrassed and ashamed.
“Do you think he cheated on you when you were together?”
“I honestly don’t know. I don’t really care either.”
I tell Adam all about the incidents with Alexa, and his face gets redder. He pulls me into a hug. He assumes that Jason was unfaithful to me the whole time we were together and maybe he was. Since I have this wonderful man in my life now, I’m not going to dwell on the past. I have enough on my plate as it is, and this is time for Shane.,
Me: Thanks for the info, girl. Surprised you read the paper? ☺
Meghan: Welcome. What? Do you think I can’t read?
Me: LOL. No, just didn’t think you took the time to care what was going on in world. Haha
Meghan: I don’t. Thank my Econ Professor, he likes to read the paper in bed. Wink, wink!
Me: Oh, well thank him for me! I guess suffice to say you had a good night!
Meghan: Suffice to say. Hope all is well with Uncle.
Me: Well….
Meghan: Do tell???? I want details.
Me: Call you Tuesday
Meghan: You better!
Adam doesn’t ask me much more about it, but I sense it upset him from how quiet he’s become. Adam is polite and nice, but not as touchy as the day before. He still holds my hand a few times, but it’s void of any real feeling. During the group session the leader, Aubrey, asks Adam to share his story about his sister, which causes a lot of tears from family members and looks of sadness from the addicts that joined our class. I’m thankful Shane isn’t here and wonder if any of the friends he has made will look at him differently now.
I study Adam’s face while he tells the story. His raw emotions are still uncontrolled and untamed. His emotions are mixed with sadness, anger, and grief that each come out during different parts of his disclosure. When he talks about Shane calling him and the two of them going into the morgue to identify her body, it’s like peace comes over him. The way he describes him and Shane helping each other through the process, his body calms down from the anger and his voice steadies, making him more like the Adam I’ve gotten to know. He says there was no anger then, just sadness; he and Shane consoled each other and grieved at the loss together. Right there I realize, Adam and I can overcome one obstacle if we get together. I truly believed he and Shane can make amends. After he finishes telling his story, I give him a hug, and he squeezes me tight.
“Thanks, Leah,” he murmurs in my neck.
“For what?” I question.
“For letting me bring you. I needed this more than I knew,” he says.
Adam’s spot in my heart grows a little more.
After group, we eat lunch together with Dani and Shane before we go to meet Jim to talk about Shane’s plan of treatment.
“Shane is making great strides, and I’m glad you and Adam were able to make it here. It has helped him get past the bad and, hopefully, move on from it,” Jim begins as we sit in our spots from a couple of days ago; Adam and I on the couch, Shane on the chair.
“With that said, Shane has one more week here, and it’s my suggestion that he goes into a facility in Chicago for another three to four months.”
Adam turns to me, and I’m speechless. Sitting there with my mouth hanging open.
“I think I can say for both of us, we’re surprised,” Adam says, thank God he can speak for the two of us.
I nod my head in agreement. I love Dani, but four more months, I’m not sure I can handle it.
“I know it’s a lot for you, Leah, taking care of Dani. I would be able to come home one day a weekend, and you can visit me. I’d be right down on Dearborn,” Shane adds.
“Shane is right; it is more outpatient, so he would have discharge hours every weekend that he could be gone from the facility, and you would be able to come and visit him with Dani. He knows this is a lot to ask, but I think it would really help Shane,” Jim pleads Shane’s case. What choice do I really have? If I want Shane to get healthy and better so he’s able to care for Dani long term, I have to allow him every chance.
I look at Adam, and he shrugs his shoulders.
“We can work this out, Leah. We’ll work out a schedule.” He grabs my hand squeezing it.
Still shell-shocked, I take a breath to recoup myself. “Okay, I’ll do this, but there’s one condition I need you to agree to Shane,” I say.
“Anything, what?” Shane eagerly asks.
“Adam’s parents want unsupervised visits with Dani. I think it would be good for her.” Shane’s face drops, and his eye slowly shut. I fear I’ve put him on the edge again and he’ll run from all of this just to make sure no one takes Dani from him.
He doesn’t look at me, but instead locks into Adam’s eyes. “You promise they won’t try to take her away from me?”
Adam’s head flings back, and his eyes widen. “Why do you think that?”
“I know they don’t like me. They fear I’ll put Dani in harm’s way,” Shane divulges.
I gasp and now everyone’s eyes land on Adam’s, who seems just as shocked.
“I promise, you stay clean, they’ll stay only grandparents,” Adam says.
Shane is quiet for a few minutes, biting his lip and staring at his feet. “All right then, I want Dani to know her grandparents, I am not against it. I just want to make sure they don’t turn her against me,” Shane says.
“I’ll make sure of it. You have nothing to worry about,” Adam attempts to ease Shane’s worries. I hope he’s telling the truth.
“So, are you okay with Adam’s parents spending time with Dani?” Jim asks Shane.
“Yes,” Shane agrees, nodding his head, but the fear still present in his eyes.
I give a small nod towards Shane, assuring him I’ll make sure nothing happens.
“Okay then, Shane will keep you informed in the meantime,” Jim finalizes the conversation. “If either of you need anything, feel free to give me a call.” He hands both of us his card.
&n
bsp; I give Jim a hug when we leave, and I’m surprised when Adam mimics my motions. It may have been the whole shake hands lean into to a hug guy thing but a hug nonetheless. Adam, Shane, and I walk out of the room to get Dani. While Adam signs Dani out, Shane and I talk about the issue with Adam’s family.
“What’s going on with you two?” Shane asks. “I thought you had a boyfriend.”
“We broke up. Adam has really been there for Dani and me,” I say, fiddling with my hands.
“Well, decision is yours. I don’t like it, but God knows I can’t tell you what to do.” Shane shuffles his feet back and forth.
“Shane, I’ll make sure nothing happens with his parents,” I say honestly, placing my hand on his arm.
“Thank you.” He looks up from my caring touch. “For more than that, Leah. Thanks for taking Dani, and now I have to add another four months because I’m such a screw up. But I appreciate everything you’ve done.” Shane’s sincere gratefulness hits me.
“You’re welcome, Shane. Where are you getting the money for the rehab treatment?” I ask. His settlement has to be gone by now.
“You’re never going to believe it—Grandma,” he huffs.
“Grandma? I’ve talked with her several times, she’s said nothing about talking with you again.” I’m floored she would keep such a secret.
“After I left you with Dani, I went out to see her. I had to apologize for everything. She agreed to pay for my treatment, but she told me I couldn’t come back if I do relapse,” Shane admits with humor filling his voice. I’m sure he’s imagining her pointy finger and tone when she told him.
Familiar Ground Page 18
